elephant has featured pro-responsible hunting articles. Hunting is better than picking up your meat in plastic wrap in a grocery store—it’s more immediate. Most hunters have a deep and practical respect for nature, and are among animals most active protectors.

We do have a problem with needless killing, and torture.

…the wolf, perhaps the last breeding alpha female of its famous old clan, was baited by a dead horse by an angry hunting safari leader across the park line, trapped, and lay starving with its pups for two weeks, chewing dirt and crushing its own teeth, losing its claws…

The below comes via various articles, and Christian Griffith, a longtime elephriend, famous climber, and man behind Verve.

If you click share or like on one thing this week, let this issue be it. We can easily make enough noise that the Alaskan governor, apparently more anti-wolf and bear than even Gov. Palin, will hear us and begin to worry about his tourism dollars.

We can and must quickly find a respectful balance between man, business, nature tourism and what’s left of the wild.. ~ ed.

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Despite the fact that Coke Wallace’s actions were not ‘illegal’ they were clearly sadistic and need to be taken as a personal affront to everyone who loves the outdoors hunter or otherwise. This cruel man and his operation could be shut down if enough public outcry is (and needs to be) mustered.

Here is another article about this recent wolf tragedy. clearly this particular female was even more important then already noted.

I hope the below letter will inspire others to write. And if not, at least ‘liking’ this is similar to signing it. If enough friends do maybe I will take a page shot of the post and forward it to the Governor as well. ~ Christian.

Dear Governor Parnell,

My name is Christian Griffith. I am the owner of an outdoor / climbing equipment company in Colorado called Verve. I recently read several news accounts of the wolf trapping that has been going on along side of Denali national park. After reading these accounts I felt compelled to write to you.

As an avid life long outdoors man and climber I have always aspired to visit your incredible state—not just for the challenge of the mountains and rivers but to witness the living natural beauty of Alaska which, I have been told, still exists to a degree unmatched in the lower forty eight.

Colorado of course has no shortage of mountains nor wildlife, however our lands have been purged of the predators that make the outdoors feel wild, and the forests secret and sacred. It may be difficult to understand living in a state which has not yet destroyed its full circle of natural creatures, but the existence of wolves and other predators in your lands is one of Alaska’s greatest allures. For myself and I am sure most of my climbing friends witnessing a wolf pack in the wild would be a greater and more memorable experience then reaching the summit of America’s greatest mountain, Denali.

I would like to ask that you do everything in your power to protect the wolves of our National Parks! Please reestablish the necessary buffers that will guard these amazing animals from hunters and profiteers that apparently wait along the edge of the park’s boundaries and bait wolves to cross. I beg that these actions and the apparent cruelty of perpetrators are not rewarded but are put and end to as quickly as possible.

I would like to visit your state. I would like to see wolves and that is the reason I would come…if not to see them, perhaps hear their howls and know that they roam unmolested in what little land that is left to them.

Thank you for your time in reading my request.

sincerely,
Christian Griffith
owner, Verve Inc.

Update:

This is from the Alaska Wildlife Alliance to me after I posted my letter. We make a difference.

Thanks very much for the letter to Gov. Parnell. We need more like that to make the necessary point to him as he is very much in the pockets of the trophy-hunting/anti-predator crowd. As bad as Sarah Palin’s administration was, Parnell’s has somehow shown itself to be even worse and it is no exaggeration to say he is waging a real war on our wolves and bears. Keep those emails flowing to him and the Commissioner of Fish and Game (cora.campbell@alaska.gov). Perhaps they will come to understand a wolf or a bear is more than just something to kill as entertainment.

Update: A post from the Alaska Wildlife Alliance…

“For those of you upset enough to cancel vacation plans to Alaska, you might want to email a comment to the state tourism association to let them know your reason. Few things speak louder to politicians than revenue loss! Email your comments to: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/ded/dev/toubus/aboutus.htm“

Update:

And here’s the link to the jerk wolf killer’s business if you really want to get to the source.

“Winter trapline hunts – These hunts are conducted primarily by snowmobile in GMU’s 13 and 20. I run three different traplines encompassing over three hundred miles. These hunts take place from Dec.-Mar.,

If the hunter would like an opportunity to harvest a Lynx or Wolverine they will have to come join me in the dead of the Alaskan winter (Dec.-Feb). I won’t promise warm weather but I will guarantee you some of the most scenic snowmobiling on earth and lots of it!

We will do some calling for predators as well as setting traps and snares in locales that are likely spots to produce results. Typically we will snowmobile between 50-150 miles a day in search of Wolves, Wolverine, Lynx, Coyote and Fox.

We will stay at several of my cabins for two and three day stints looking for predators to call and/or trap. These hunts have become increasingly popular over the years so much so that I can’t even break away to attend a show to promote my business.

If the hunter wants to harvest some of the most luxurious fur on the face of the earth then this hunt is for you.”

Update:

Here’s another wolf link about the same…with a few numbers if you feel like doing something. I am going to.

Please help by asking our State Government to 1) implement an emergency closure to halt hunting and trapping on state land bordering the northern edge of Denali National Park, and 2) re-establish the Denali Buffer Zone (abolished in 2010), which protects the park wildlife along its borders. 3) Reiterate that Alaska hunting guides should have respect for the wildlife and the country, and have common sense.

It horrifies me just how cruel and senseless some people can be towards the natural world (the world "God" created for us). It seems to be a slap in the face of "God" to destroy the beautiful creatures as well as the land itself because of greed and (self) hatred. I am so glad I never had children (they will never have to see things like this!)

thanks so much for re-posting my letter and expertly editing in all the important chunks of the article and emails i had posted on verveclimbing's page. regardless of your stance on wolves this particular animal ought to have been afforded "natural living treasure" status if such a designation esisted. that she fell victim to the sadistic action of one cruel human being is a guilt we as a speices now must all share and do our best to prevent ever happening again. cg / vrv